TANIA PATTERSON

Today we will take a guided tour of the 90-Mile Beach in New Zealand.

Along the way, we will see the "uncovered" 1,100-year-old trees of the Kauri Forest, observe the wild horses of the Aupouri Pine Forest, and ride across the Te Paki "quick sand" stream.

New Zealand is also home to featured jewelry designer Tania Patterson.


Patterson's nature-inspired jewelry is remarkable. Her sterling silver renderings of leaf brooch pins, and butterfly pendant necklaces are pure and unfiltered.

A graduate of Unitech, with a Diploma in Craft Design Jewelry, Patterson's detailed designs are so life-like you will think you are looking at the real thing.

She works with numerous materials including resin, Perspex, wood, enamel and silver, and she also loves incorporating an element of surprise in her designs. "I work mainly in sterling silver with moving parts and mechanisms often a feature of my work. I enjoy making work that the wearer can interact with."

The intricacy and detail she captures is extraordinary. Composed of sterling silver and enamel, her feather broochpins look so realistic it is as though they could float delicately to the ground when released. Likewise, she gives her sterling silver and enamel leaf brooch pins the transitional colors that signal the fall season, as well as signs of decay, and insect holes.

Patterson takes it even further with her Specimens Collection featuring bird, and insect brooch pins. "This group of work continues my interest in New Zealand natural history and the overlap between science and art.

At the Auckland Museum I came across some drawers filled with dead birds, I was struck by how little they told me about birds. I am interested in what the static museum display does and doesn't teach us."

I don't believe Patterson has a personal website at this time; however, many galleries exhibit her incredible pieces including Quoil, Fingers, Masterworks Gallery, Statements Gallery, and Form.
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Photo 1 (top right): Sterling Silver Pod Necklace
Photo 2 (bottom left): Sterling Silver and Enamel Feather Brooch Pins